Kafka drinks Coffee

One Hundred Years of Sexual Alienation –

from Kafka's The Castle

to "Cat Person",

the Most Read Online Short Story

Sunday, June 9, 4-6pm

506 21st Street, San Diego, CA 92102

We will continue our discussion of The Castle and bridge one of the leading themes of Kafka's novel, romantic relationships, sex and the yearning for love and understanding, to our modern-days mores.

Please join us to discover how the short story "Cat Person" that took the Internet by storm in 2018 is a continuation of a century old problem.Kristen Roupenian's short story "Cat Person" was published by the New Yorker in December 2017. In the weeks after it was published, it was shared millions of times, went on to get more than 4.5m hits and became the most-read piece of online fiction the New Yorker has published. It is a story about dating, a kind of commentary on how people get to know each other, or don't, through electronic communication.One hundred years ago the theme of sexual alienation was explored by Franz Kafka in The Castle. It is fascinating to trace the connection!Our in house artist Byron LaDue will read from both stories to help us enjoy their writers' talent in search to debunk the puzzle: why is love plagued by misunderstandings? There will be savory treats, wine, coffee, lots of good cheer, camaraderie with the usual hallmarks of our Coffee with Kafka events!To read the "Cat Person" story click here; an interview with the author; and an article about the story.=====================================================

This is a 1997 Germany/Austria production written and directed by the visionary filmmaker Michael Haneke whose movies ("The Lives of Others", "The Piano Teacher" and "The White Ribbon") are well known in the US.The movie is in German with English subtitles.

A land surveyor is summoned to a remote village by the local government, known as "The Castle". As the absurdity to his circumstances and the depth and intricacy of the Castle's hold on the villagers grow, Haneke masterfully evokes Kafka's vision of a dystopian society hobbled by paperwork and bled dry by conformism and convolution. Using an expert cast and beautifully austere Rembrand-like visuals, Haneke transforms Kafka's unfinished novel into a potent, enigmatic and complete film experience that is truly Kafkaesque.

A short discussion following the film will set the stage for conversations to be continued in our future "Coffee with Kafka" meetings.

Please note:

Doors open at 4pm.

The introduction and screening will start promptly at 4:15pm.The movie runs about two hours.